Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I accept the Minister of State's well-meaning intention when she says this must be clarified but I do not believe what she said is fully accurate. She said this is primarily intended for local small usage and is not intended to apply in respect of energy generated for export. As drafted, it clearly means those not connected to the national grid and the biggest such projects are the ones for export. Second, and most importantly, the companies involved know it applies to them because time and again both of those companies, in their documentation, stated that each year there will be a benefit to the local community through rates and payment to the landowner. They never said they will be paying development levies because they would have listed that as a benefit if they were paying levies to local authorities. They know they are out of the gap on this one.

Also, if Ireland is not charging development levies the Minister of State is effectively subsidising companies to compete for electricity prices in the United Kingdom. Is that in breach of European Union state aid rules? The Minister of State has not explained the reason this deal was done, the advisers and Ministers who met these companies and, in particular, the situation regarding the board member of Mainstream Renewable Power, Mr. Brendan Halligan, who also happens to be the chairman of Sustainable Energy Ireland. That needs to be clarified. Finally, will the Minister's Department show the same favouritism in the planning process by issuing directives and policies to An Bord Pleanála to grant these two companies planning permission just as she has directed local authorities not to charge them development levies?

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